Officers who died in the Boer War 1899-1902

Johnson-Smyth.-Major Thomas Roger Johnson-Smyth, 1st Batt. Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action Feb. 5th, 1900, in the operations on the Upper Tugela. He was born June, 1857, educated at Rossall, and joined the 106th Foot from the Antrim Militia, Sept., 1878, being promoted lieut. April, 1879, capt. Feb., 1885, and major Aug., 1896. He served with the Soudan Frontier Field Force, 1885-86, and was present in the engagement at Giniss, receiving the medal and Khedive's star. Major Johnson-Smyth was adjutant of Militia from May, 1887, to May, 1892, and commandant of the School of Instruction, Militia and Volunteers, Aldershot, in 1899. He embarked for South Africa with his battalion in Oct., 1899, served with the Natal Field Force, and was mentioned in despatches, London Gazette, Feb. 8th, 1901.

Lambton.-Lieut. Ronald Robert Lambton, 1st Batt. Durham Light Infantry (brother of Capt. Alexander Frederick Lambton, H.L.I. killed at Magersfontein), died of wounds received Sept. 17th, 1901, while serving near Vryheid with Major Gough's Column. He was the 6th son of Lieut.-Col. Francis William Lambton, of Brownslade, Pembroke, late Scots Guards, by his marriage with Lady Victoria Alexandrina Elizabeth, daughter of the second Earl of Cawdor. Lieut. Lambton was born in March, 1879, and educated at Wellington, where he was in the Orange, entered the Durham Light Infantry from the 3rd Batt. (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Middlesex Regt. May, 1899, and was promoted lieut. Nov. 1900. He went to South Africa with his battalion in Oct., 1899, which formed part of the Natal Field Force, was present at the battle of Colenso, and in the operations on the Tugela Jan. 12th and Feb. 6th, 1900, being severely wounded in the engagement at Vaal Kranz. He also took part in the advance through Northern Natal into the Transvaal. Lieut Lambton was mentioned in despatches by Gen. Lord Kitchener, Dec. 8th, 1901, for his "most gallant conduct in trying to repulse the boer attack." He is buried at Vryheid.

Owen-Lewis.-Lieut. Francis Owen-Lewis, 14th Bombay Infantry, was killed in action near Graspan in a reconnaissance with an armoured train, Nov. 24th, 1899. He was the second son of Henry Owen-Lewis, Esq., D.L., of Inniskeen, co. Monaghan, and was born in Aug., 1869. He entered the Durham Light Infantry from the Militia in Feb., 1891, was promoted lieut. March, 1893, and joined the Indian Staff Corps July, 1894. He is stated to have done good work in India, especially in connection with the precautions taken for the suppression of plague at Poona.

Rasbotham.- Lieut. Robert Egerton Rasbotham, 1st Batt. Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action at Eden Kop, June 22nd, 1901. The second son of Mrs. Asheton Rasbotham, of Ebnal Grange, Malpas, he was born in August, 1878, and educated at Eton (Mr. Broadbent's). He entered the Durham Light Infantry from the 4th Batt. Royal Welsh Fusiliers in Oct., 1899, and was promoted lieut. March, 1901. He served throughout the Natal campaign, including Colenso, Vaal Kranz, and Pieter's Hill, and was invalided home after enteric in June, 1900, but returned the following September. Lieut. Rasbotham was recommended for the Royal Humane Society's medal for endeavouring to save a drowning soldier at Maritzburg. When killed he was serving with the M.I., and after being mortally wounded he directed his men 11 not to give in." He was mentioned in despatches, London Gazette, August 21st, 1901, also in Gen. Lord Kitchener's despatch, July 28th, 1901, for "when in command of a patrol which was suddenly fired on at close quarters and mortally wounded, most gallantly continued to encourage his men till he died." He is buried at Vlakfontein.

Thresher.-Lieut. Edward Burnaby Thresher, 1st Batt. Durham Light Infantry, died of enteric at Standerton, April 9th, 1901. He was the son of the Rev. J. H. Thresher, was born in April, 1876, and educated at Wellington, where he was in the Blucher, 1889-93. He entered the Durham Light Infantry from the 3rd Batt. in May, 1897, being promoted lieut. in Oct., 1899. He accompanied his battalion to South Africa in Oct., 1899, and served with the Ladysmith Relief Force and subsequently in Northern Natal and the Transvaal. At the time of his death he was adjutant of his battalion, to which post he had been appointed in May, 1900.

Way.-Lieut. Arthur Strachan Way, D.S.O., 2nd Batt. Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action at Tabaksberg, south of Welcome, Jan. 29th, 1901, in the fighting with De Wet. He was the fourth son of the Rev. W. H. Bromley Way, late Rector of Warboys, Hants, was born in March, I876, and educated at Marlborough. He was a keen sportsman and a good Rugby forward. He entered the Durham Light Infantry from the Royal Military College in Feb., 1896, being promoted lieut. July, 1897. He saw much service during the campaign and at Sanna's Post, and when surrounding Prinsloo, behaved with conspicuous bravery. Lieut. Way was awarded the D.S.O., Sept, 28th, 1901, and the medal with five clasps for Paardeberg, Wittebergen, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and Driefontein. He was mentioned in dispatches, London Gazeete, Sept. 10th, 1901. The following is an extract from the orders of his battalion (then stationed in Burmah), of Feb. 4th, 1901: "The Commanding Officer announces with great regret the death, in South Africa, of Lieut. A. S. Way, who was killed in action Jan. 29th. Lieut. Way was a most promising and zealous officer, and his death is a great loss to the battalion, where he was known and liked by all ranks as a good all round sportsman." His battalion has put up a marble cross in his memory at Welcome, and his name is inscribed on a tablet placed in Marlborough College Chapel in memory of all Marburians who fell in the war.